Oklo's Groves Isotope Test Reactor Achieves First Criticality

Oklo, a U.S. advanced nuclear technology company, announced on August 6 that its Groves Isotope Test Reactor has achieved a controlled self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction at low power, reaching first criticality. This milestone comes less than a year after the project broke ground.

Groves Isotope Test Reactor facility (Image: Groves)

The Groves low-power test reactor, located in Lockhart, Texas, is the first reactor to achieve criticality on private land under the U.S. Department of Energy's Reactor Pilot Program. According to Oklo, the facility was built from undeveloped land, completing civil excavation, engineering construction, component fabrication or procurement, fuel configuration, and operating procedure development.

Jacob DeWitte, co-founder and CEO of Oklo, stated that reaching criticality in less than a year at the Groves project is a significant milestone for the team. The company believes the project establishes a new reference for the Reactor Pilot Program and accumulates experience for the future scaled deployment of advanced nuclear technologies.

The U.S. Department of Energy's Reactor Pilot Program provides a pathway for engineering design, construction, commissioning, and operational readiness that runs in parallel with safety review and licensing. The implementation of the Groves project demonstrates that, with coordinated efforts among developers, suppliers, and regulators, the timeline from reactor design, construction, licensing, to startup can be significantly shortened.

According to the company, the Groves project is part of Oklo's isotope business, aiming to establish domestic U.S. isotope production capabilities for healthcare, industrial, scientific research, and space applications. The experience gained in engineering, procurement, construction, reactor operation, startup procedures, safety preparedness, personnel training, and deployment execution will serve as a reference for future isotope production facilities.

Oklo stated that the Groves project has also established relevant engineering practices, operating procedures, training programs, and commissioning experience, which will help reduce uncertainty and execution risks for its subsequent isotope facilities, power generation facilities, and fuel cycle-related projects.